WITH the new season well underway, Marina Bowling Club Dawlish have had a busy few weeks with the weather following suit.

First up was Presidents Day on May 4, everyone enjoying a friendly game of bowls with afternoon tea which included a cream tea before then entertaining a tourist team from Wales.

The club regularly hold social evenings, one of which was an evening of horse racing (as pictured) using dice and counters, great fun was had by all even if some of the horses didn’t want to come out of the stalls.

On to the serious stuff now with both the men and the ladies have put in a tremendous amount of practice before the league matches started. The ladies played a friendly at Shaldon on May 8 winning on two rinks out of three and taking the overall win.

The first ladies’ South Devon League 2 match took place at Totnes on the 12th, winning on two rinks and coming away with eight points out of ten. The next match took them to Chudleigh on the 29th, winning on all three rinks commanding a full 10 points which makes a great start for the season.

Meanwhile for the men, they have been equally busy with the Mid Devon Leagues.

Their first MDL Premier match was against Shaldon which was a very challenging game, the team dug deep to come back in the second half of the game but unfortunately lost. Next was an away match at Kings in Torquay on Thursday 22, Kings bringing out the big guns to secure the win. Next came the men’s first MDL 4 match at home against Victoria (Torquay) winning on all four rinks. There was also an over-60s league win against Axminster, securing eight points, and a defeat at North Tawton too. The men’s over 55s have played three matches so far. Newton Abbot was the first in the o55’s X league, Marina losing on both rinks at home. Then the same X team played again at home to Abbrook Park earning a well-earned six points against strong opponents.

On Wednesday 21, they travelled to Kingsteignton but that is a tricky green as it’s an outdoor carpet and they did end up losing on both rinks.

County matches are also being played with a myriad of players having entered competitions this season.

Debs and Steph played a closely fought match in the over 55s at Newton Abbot against Isobel and Jane, narrowly losing out 13-16.

Next, Sue O won the major singles first round 21-12, Sue W won her first round of the unbadged singles against Angela from the Den winning 23-17 and Debs K played the first round of the unbadged singles against another Deborah at Bovey Tracey, on Sunday 18, winning 22-4.

Debbie C and Dave B won the first round of the mixed pairs against a pair from the Den. Debs K and Pete S won the first round of the mixed pairs against Carole S and Dave M from Bitton Park and the same pair then won the next round of mixed pairs to the Chappells from Starcross. Lastly, Andrew M and Marc B won the first round of the men’s greater pairs.

Congratulations all of those in action for Marina.